Portable telephone

ABSTRACT

A portable telephone is designed to realize portable telephone functions and game device functions, particularly music games, which are embodied by a vibration device such as a vibration sensor and a vibration motor. When the user swings and vibrates the portable telephone like a maraca in synchronization with the rhythm of a prescribed musical tune, the vibration device produces vibration pulses, which are compared with rhythm pulses. Then, a score is marked on user&#39;s operation to swing the portable telephone on the basis of time differences detected between the vibration pulses and rhythm pulses and is displayed on the screen of a display.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to portable telephones that producemusical tones such as melody sound and rhythm sound to respond toincoming calls and play games.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, portable telephones have been widely spread and usedamong general people, so particularly young persons frequently ownedportable telephones for personal communications. Recently, the engineershave developed a variety of techniques for portable telephones, some ofwhich provided specific functions as game devices in addition toportable telephone functions. For this reason, there is a strong demandthat portable telephones be further developed and improved in functionas game devices.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a portabletelephone that provides brand-new functions as game devices, whichrealize particularly simulated performance of musical instruments.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0004] A portable telephone of this invention is basically designed torealize game device functions, particularly music games, in addition toportable telephone functions. According to portable telephone functions,the portable telephone establishes a line connection with an externaltelephone terminal by radio communication in connection with theexisting telephone line network constituted by base stations and mobileexchanges, for example. Herein, the portable telephone is capable ofgenerating musical tones and rhythm sounds of a prescribed musical tunein response to reception of incoming calls. The game device functionsare embodied specifically by means of a vibration device such as avibration sensor and a vibration motor. That is, when the user swingsand vibrates the portable telephone in synchronization with rhythmsounds, the vibration device produces vibration pulses, which arecompared with rhythm pulses. Then, a score is marked with respect touser's operation to swing and vibrate the portable telephone on thebasis of time differences detected between vibration pulses and rhythmpulses and is displayed on the screen of a display. That is, the user iscapable of playing a music game by swinging and vibrating the portabletelephone like a maraca in synchronization with rhythm.

[0005] Incidentally, when the vibration motor is installed in theportable telephone, it is possible to generate vibration in response toreception of incoming calls, and it is possible to detect vibrationapplied to the portable telephone in response to counter-electromotiveforce produced by the vibration motor. Herein, the counter-electromotiveforce can be also used to charge a battery of the portable telephone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic configuration of aportable telephone in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electronic configuration of aportable telephone in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] This invention will be described in further detail by way ofexamples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009]FIG. 1 shows an electronic configuration of a portable telephone Kin accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.1, reference numeral 1 designates a central processing unit (CPU) thatperforms overall controls on several sections and circuits of theportable telephone K, and reference numeral 2 designates a read-onlymemory (ROM) that stores programs executed by the CPU 1 as well asincoming call melody data used for generation of incoming call melodysound to notify a user of the portable telephone K of reception ofincoming calls from calling parties. Reference numeral 3 designates arandom-access memory (RAM) that is used as a temporary storage of data.The RAM 3 temporarily stores telephone numbers for use in dialprocessing and music data used for playing games. Incidentally, the RAM3 has a battery-backup. Reference numeral 4 designates an operator inputsection that contains numeric keys for use in entry of telephone numbersand function keys for inputting commands and instructions. Referencenumeral 5 designates a display that is constituted by a liquid crystaldisplay and a display control circuit.

[0010] Reference numeral 6 designates a communicator connected with anantenna 7. The communicator 6 transmits transmission data on carrierwaves by the antenna 7, and it also demodulates incoming call signalsreceived by the antenna 7 to produce incoming call data, which areforwarded to a speech processor 8. In addition, a microphone 9 picks upand converts the speech of the user of the portable telephone K tospeech signals, which are forwarded to the speech processor 8. Thespeech processor 8 converts speech signals to digital data, which arethen compressed to form transmission data to be supplied to thecommunicator 6. Further, the speech of a person who uses a telephoneterminal (not shown) to communicate with the portable telephone K isreceived and converted to speech data by the communicator 6. Therefore,the speech processor 8 converts the speech data output from thecommunicator 6 to analog speech signals, which are forwarded to aspeaker 10.

[0011] Reference numeral 13 designates a musical tone memory to whichmusic data given from the CPU 1 is to be written. That is, the musicaltone memory 13 stores incoming call melody data used for generation ofincoming call melody sound and music data used for playing games,details of which will be described later. A controller 14 writes themusic data given from the CPU 1 to the musical tone memory 13. Herein,the music data contain melody data, timing data and rhythm sound data.Thus, the controller 14 reads the melody data from the musical tonememory 13 to sequentially output them to a sound source circuit 15 inaccordance with the timing data. In addition, the controller 14generates pulse signals for designating timings of generating rhythmsounds and outputs them to a rhythm sound source 16 in accordance withthe rhythm sound data.

[0012] The sound source circuit 15 is a circuitry that forms digitalmusical tone signals based on the FM system or PCM system. That is, thesound source circuit 15 forms digital melody sound signals based on themelody data output from the controller 14, so that the digital melodysound signals are forwarded to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 18.The digital-to-analog converter 18 converts the digital melody soundsignals output from the sound source circuit 15 to analog melody soundsignals, which are forwarded to a mixer 20. The rhythm sound source 16generates digital rhythm sound signals based on the pulse signals outputfrom the controller 14, so that the digital rhythm sound signals areforwarded to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 19. Thedigital-to-analog converter 19 converts the digital rhythm sound signalsoutput from the rhythm sound source 16 to analog rhythm sound signals,which are forwarded to the mixer 20. The mixer 20 mixes together theanalog melody sound signals and analog rhythm sound signals that arerespectively output from the digital-to-analog converters 18 and 19.Thus, the mixer 20 produces mixed signals, which are forwarded to aspeaker 21.

[0013] Reference numeral 23 designates a vibration sensor that sensesswinging vibration applied to the portable telephone K by the user. Whenan output of the vibration sensor 23 exceeds a prescribed thresholdlevel, a vibration detection circuit 24 generates a pulse, which isforwarded to a rhythm difference detection circuit 25. That is, as longas the output of the vibration sensor 23 exceeds the prescribedthreshold level, the vibration detection circuit 24 outputs pulsesignals, which are forwarded to the rhythm difference detection circuit25. The user starts a game by pressing a certain key on the operatorinput section 4 so that the CPU 1 issues a game start signal, whichactivates the rhythm difference detection circuit 25 to operate. Thatis, after the CPU 1 issues the game start signal, the rhythm differencedetection circuit 25 measures time differences between pulses outputfrom the controller 14, which designate timings of generating rhythmsounds, and pulses output from the vibration detection circuit 24 whichdetects the swinging vibration of the portable telephone K. Then, themeasured time differences are forwarded to the CPU 1.

[0014] Next, descriptions will be given with respect to detailedoperations of the portable telephone K that provides game devicefunctions in addition to portable telephone functions. First, adescription will be given with respect to the portable telephonefunctions of the portable telephone K.

[0015] At reception of an incoming call from a telephone terminal of acalling party, the communicator 6 receives incoming call signals by theantenna 7, wherein the incoming call signals are demodulated to produceincoming call data, which are forwarded to the CPU 1. Upon receipt ofthe incoming call data, the CPU 1 accesses the RAM 3 to store atelephone number of the calling party. Then, the CPU 1 reads from theROM 2 the incoming call melody data, which are forwarded to thecontroller 14. The controller 14 writes the incoming call melody data tothe musical tone memory 13, from which the incoming call melody data aresequentially read out and supplied to the sound source circuit 15. Thus,the sound source circuit 15 generates incoming call melody signals,which are converted to analog signals by the digital-to-analog converter18. The analog signals are supplied to the speaker 21 by way of themixer 20, so that the speaker 21 produces incoming call melody sound.

[0016] When hearing the incoming call melody sound, the user of theportable telephone K presses a call reception button (not shown) on theoperator input section 4, so that the CPU 1 issues an incoming callsound stop instruction to the controller 14. In addition, the CPU 1issues a line connection instruction to the speech processor 8 andcommunicator 6. Thus, a line connection is established between theportable telephone K and the telephone terminal of the calling party.This enables transmission of speech signals of the microphone 9 to thecalling party. In addition, the speech processor 8 outputs speechsignals based on the speech of the calling party to the speaker 10.Thus, the speaker 10 produces the speech of the calling party.

[0017] In a call transmission mode, the user of the portable telephone Koperates the numeric keys on the operator input section 4 to enter atelephone number of a called party, then, the user presses a calltransmission button (not shown) on the operator input section 4. By theentry of the telephone number using the numeric keys, the CPU 1 writesthe telephone number to the RAM 3. When the user presses the calltransmission button, the CPU 1 sends the telephone number temporarilystored in the RAM 3 to the communicator 6. Then, the communicator 6transmits signals representing the telephone number on carrier waves bythe antenna 7. Hence, call signals corresponding the telephone numberare sent to the telephone terminal of the called party. When a lineconnection is established with the telephone terminal of the calledparty, the CPU 1 issues a line connection instruction to thecommunicator 6 and the speech processor 8. This secures conversationwith the called party by the microphone 9 and speaker 10.

[0018] The aforementioned portable telephone functions are generallyemployed by the conventional portable telephones.

[0019] Next, a description will be given with respect to the game devicefunctions of the portable telephone K. In this case, the user calls amusic download center (not shown) over phone to request distribution (ordownload) of musical tunes. The music download center corresponds tocomputer facilities that are provided for exclusive use in distributionof music information and data. When receiving requests from users orsubscribers of telephones via telephone lines, the music download centerdistributes music data of requested musical tunes on charges. That is,the music download center distributes to the users or subscribers themusic data containing melody sound data and rhythm sound data. When theuser of the portable telephone K requests a certain musical tune fordistribution, the music download center downloads corresponding musicdata to the portable telephone K, in which the music data are receivedby the communicator 6 and are forwarded to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 writesthe downloaded music data to the RAM 3. Herein, the user of the portabletelephone K is capable of requesting distribution of multiple musicaltunes from the music download center, so that the multiple musical tunesare written to the RAM 3.

[0020] When the portable telephone K receives downloaded music data ofmultiple musical tunes as requested, the user is capable of selectingone of the musical tunes by operating a prescribed key (or keys) on theoperator input section 4. The CPU 1 detects key operations made by theuser to read out music data of the selected musical tune from the RAM 3.The read music data are forwarded to the controller 14, by which theyare written to the musical tone memory 13. Then, the user operates aprescribed key to start a game on the operator input section 4. The CPU1 detects such a key operation to issue a game start instruction to thecontroller 14 and the rhythm difference detection circuit 25. Thus, thecontroller 14 sequentially reads from the musical tone memory 13 themusic data that contain melody data, timing data and rhythm sound data.The controller 14 outputs the melody data to the sound source circuit 15in accordance with the timing data, while it also outputs pulse signalsdesignating timings of generating rhythm sounds to the rhythm soundsource 16 in accordance with the rhythm sound data. Thus, the speaker 21produces melody sound and rhythm sound of the selected musical tune.

[0021] In synchronization with the musical tune, the user holds andswings the portable telephone K like a maraca, which is a kind of apercussion instrument. When the user swings the portable telephone K,swinging vibration is applied to the portable telephone K and is sensedby the vibration sensor 23 that output pulses. That is, the vibrationdetection circuit 24 outputs pulse signals corresponding to outputs ofthe vibration sensor 23 to the rhythm difference detection circuit 25.Hence, the rhythm difference detection circuit 25 inputs pulses outputfrom the vibration detection circuit 24 for detecting the swingingvibration and pulses output from the controller 14 for designatingtimings of generating rhythm sounds. As long as the user continuouslyswings the portable telephone K intensely over the prescribed thresholdlevel, the rhythm difference detection circuit 25 successively detectstime differences between the aforementioned pulses. As a result, therhythm difference detection circuit 25 produces time difference data inconnection with the output pulses of the controller 14 respectively, sothat the time difference data are successively forwarded to the CPU 1.The CPU 1 sequentially writes the time difference data to the RAM 3.

[0022] When the portable telephone K completes playback of the musicaltune based on the music data written in the musical tone memory 13, thecontroller 14 issues an interrupt signal representing an end of playbackto the CPU 1. Upon receipt of the interrupt signal, the CPU 1 sums upthe time difference data written to the RAM 3. Thus, a total of the timedifference data is displayed on the screen of the display 5 as a user'sscore in playing a music game.

[0023] In the aforementioned embodiment, the portable telephone K isdesigned to generate rhythm pulses based on rhythm data contained inmusic data. It is possible to modify the present embodiment such thatrhythm pulses be extracted from the melody sound data. In addition, itis possible to modify the present embodiment such that generation ofrhythm sounds be stopped during a game play.

[0024] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2, which shows an electronicconfiguration of a portable telephone K1. In FIG. 2, parts identical tothose shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals,hence, the description thereof will be omitted as necessary.

[0025] The portable telephone K1 shown in FIG. 2 differs from theportable telephone K1 shown in FIG. 1 by the provision of a vibrationmotor 26 and a diode 27, which substitute for the aforementionedvibration sensor 23 and vibration detection circuit 24. Incidentally,the portable telephone K1 shown in FIG. 2 is also equipped with abattery 28 and a power source circuit 29, which are also used by theportable telephone K of FIG. 1 wherein those elements are omitted fromthe illustration. The vibration motor 26 is a dc motor in which avibrating member is fixed to a rotation shaft in an unbalanced manner.When the vibration motor 26 operates to rotate the rotation shaft, thevibrating member is subjected to unbalanced motion to cause vibration.The diode 27 is provided to prevent reverse current from flowingtherethrough.

[0026] In the portable telephone K1, the user is capable of operatingsome key on the operator input section 4 to select vibration caused bythe vibration motor 26 instead of generation of incoming call melodysound. In that case, at reception of an incoming call, the CPU 1 issuesa drive instruction to the vibration motor 26. Thus, the portabletelephone K1 activates the vibration motor 26 to cause vibration withoutgenerating incoming call melody sound in response to reception of anincoming call.

[0027] Next, a description will be given with respect to game devicefunctions of the portable telephone K1. In this case, the user cuts offpower supply to the vibration motor 26. Similar to the portabletelephone K shown in FIG. 1, the portable telephone K1 performs similarprocessing so that the speaker 21 produces musical tones of a specificmusical tune being selected. When the user swings and vibrates theportable telephone K1 in synchronization with the musical tones of thespecific musical tune, the rotation shaft of the vibration motor 26 isforced to rotate due to vibration of the portable telephone K1. Due tothe forced rotation of the rotation shaft, ‘pulse-like’counter-electromotive force is caused to occur on a coil of thevibration motor 26. The counter-electromotive force is supplied to therhythm difference detection circuit 25. Then, the rhythm differencedetection circuit 25 detects time differences between the pulses ofcounter-electromotive force and the rhythm pulses output from thecontroller 14. The rhythm difference detection circuit 25 produces timedifference data, which are forwarded to the CPU 1. That is, the portabletelephone K1 is characterized by using the vibration motor 26 instead ofthe vibration sensor 23 shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] The aforementioned counter-electromotive force is supplied to thebattery 28 via the diode 27, so that the battery 28 will be charged.This means that the portable telephone K1 uses the vibration motor 26 asa vibration source as well as an electricity generating source thatcharges the battery 28 while the user enjoys playing a music game.

[0029] As described heretofore, this invention has a variety of effectsand technical features, which are described below.

[0030] (1) The portable telephone of this invention is designed todetect time differences between rhythm pulses corresponding to a rhythmof a musical tune and pulses that are produced by the user who swingsand vibrates the portable telephone in synchronization with musicaltones of the musical tune. In addition, the portable telephoneintroduces a brand-new function to automatically mark a score in a musicgame on the basis of the time differences between the rhythm pulses andthe pulses produced in response to user's motion. Thus, it is expectedthat the portable telephones providing the aforementioned function mayattract interests of people to arouse new demands on the market ofportable telephones and game devices.

[0031] (2) Detecting vibration on the portable telephone is not onlyrealized by a vibration sensor but also realized by a vibration motor.The vibration motor is used to cause vibration in response to receptionof incoming calls from calling parties. In addition, the vibration motorcan be also used as a sensor because it produces counter-electromotiveforce in response to vibration applied thereto. Further, thecounter-electromotive force can be used to charge a battery. Thus,portable telephones that provide vibration motors to realize game devicefunctions of this invention can be easily manufactured without providingnew capital investment in the existing phone manufacturing facilities.This may bring reduction in manufacturing costs for producing newportable telephones having game device functions.

[0032] Lastly, this invention is not necessarily limited to theforegoing embodiments, hence, it is possible to provide any types ofmodifications within the scope of the invention without departing fromessential subject matters.

1. A portable telephone having a communicator for receiving andtransmitting signals with base stations by radio communication to secureconversation with an external telephone terminal, comprising: avibration sensor for detecting vibration applied to the portabletelephone; a musical tone generator for generating musical tones of aprescribed musical tune; a rhythm sound signal generator for generatingrhythm sound signals in synchronization with the musical tones of theprescribed musical tune; a rhythm difference detector for detectingtiming differences between outputs of the vibration sensor and therhythm sound signals; a scorer for marking a score based on the timingdifferences detected by the rhythm difference detector; and a displayfor displaying the score on a screen thereof.
 2. A portable telephonehaving a communicator for receiving and transmitting signals with basestations by radio communication to secure conversation with an externaltelephone terminal, comprising: a vibration motor for applying vibrationto the portable telephone at reception of an incoming call, wherein thevibration motor generates counter-electromotive force when vibrated; amusical tone generator for generating musical tones of a prescribedmusical tune; a rhythm sound signal generator for generating rhythmsound signals in synchronization with the musical tones of theprescribed musical tune; a rhythm difference detector for detectingtiming differences between outputs of the vibration motor correspondingto the counter-electromotive force and the rhythm sound signals; ascorer for marking a score based on the timing differences detected bythe rhythm difference detector; and a display for displaying the scoreon a screen thereof.
 3. A portable telephone comprising: a musical tonememory for storing music data containing melody data and rhythm sounddata with respect to a plurality of musical tunes; a musical tonegenerator for generating musical tones based on the melody data of aprescribed musical tune selected from among the plurality of musicaltunes; a rhythm sound generator for generating rhythm sounds based onthe rhythm sound data of the prescribed musical tune; a vibration devicefor detecting vibration applied to the portable telephone to producepulses; a rhythm difference detector for detecting time differencesbetween rhythm pulses corresponding to the rhythm data and the pulsesproduced by the vibration device; and a display for displaying a scoremarked for user's operation swinging the portable telephone on the basisof the time differences detected by the rhythm difference detector.
 4. Aportable telephone according to claim 3, wherein the vibration devicecorresponds to a vibration motor that generates pulses ofcounter-electromotive force when vibrated.
 5. A portable telephoneaccording to claim 4, wherein a battery is automatically charged by thecounter-electromotive force produced by the vibration motor.